File-cupboard for drawings, maps or the like



FILE-CUPBOARD FOR DRAWINGS, MAPS OR THE LIKE Filed March 11, 1958 P. PARVIS Jan. 3, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. Pam, Fe m:

v/dad f. ln'ey- Jan. 3, 1961 P. PARVIS 2,967,079

FILE-CUPBOARD FOR DRAWINGS, MAPS OR THE LIKE Filed March 11, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. P/eja-a BY P. PARvls 2,967,079

Jan. 3, 1961 FILE-CUPBOARD FOR DRAWINGS, MAPS OR THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 11, 1958 INVENTOR. F. C

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FILE-CUPBOARD FOR DRAWINGS, MAPS OR THE LIKE Pietro Parvis, Via A. Gentile 5, Milan, Italy Filed Mar. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 720,658

21 Claims. (Cl. 312--184) This invention relates to a file-cupboard to contain drawings, plans, maps and the like.

The first object of the invention is to provide a file-cupboard which enables to remove and replace again a se lected drawing or the like, without spoiling or in any way rumpling it during these operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filecupboard in which drawings are placed vertically, so that no folding may occur, according to a predetermined arrangement which makes the removal of each sheet easy.

Moreover, another object of this invention is to provide a file-cupboard in which a great number of drawings may be placed in a comparatively small space without mutual interference.

Another object of the invention is also to allow a simple and rational classification of drawings or the like contained in the file-cupboard.

Further objects of the invention are to provide: simple hanging means for the drawings or the like contained in the cupboard so as to maintain them in vertical position, and a file-cupboard comprising a plurality of movable mechanically interconnected parts which may be brought in a position in which the drawing may be rapidly removed from the cupboard, by acting upon one of the parts.

Briefly stated, these objects are attained by the present invention by a file-cupboard, which is essentially characterized in that it comprises a box-like body provided with a pair of swinging, superposed doors, as well as a raisable lid, mechanically connected by means of a lever and rod system with both aforesaid doors, in such a Way that raising of this lid causes the doors to be turned. One of said doors, i.e. the lower one, has a plate like projection thereon which may co-operate with an inner wall of said boxlike body so to provide a chute on which drawings or the like may drop and be conveyed to the outside of the cupboard. The drawings or the like are removably suspended through elastically deformable plastic hanging means on a plurality of comb-like members which rest on shoulders in the cupboard. By deforming the above hanging means they disengage from the comb-like means and the drawings thus liberated fall on the chute and may consequently be removed from said body through the aperture provided by swinging of the lower door.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the file-cupboard in the open position with the upper swinging door partially broken away;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a comb-like member supporting a drawing or the like;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of a hanging means employed in suspending the drawing on the comblike member;

Figure 4 shows in the upper part the hanging means of Fig. 3 after its deformation enabling the drawing to be removed from the comb member, and in the lower part,

with dotted lines, the hanging means after having left said comb member;

Figure 5 shows a front elevation of another embodiment of the hanging means mounted on a drawing;

Figure 6 is a section taken on line VI--VI of Fig. 5;

Figure 7 is a cross section of the file-cupboard in the closed position;

Figure 8 shows the cupboard of Fig. 7 in the open position in which the drawings or the like may be readily removed from the cupboard;

Figs. 9 and 10 are elevational sectional views of a modified file-cupboard of the invention in the closed and open position respectively; and

Fig. 11 illustrates a detail of another modified embodiment of the invention in elevational section.

With reference to the drawings, the file-cupboard according to the invention includes a box-like body, generally indicated at 1, having two parallel lateral walls 2 and 3, a back wall 4 and a bottom wall 5. The file-cupboard includes also a turnable lid 6 hinged at 7 on a fixed part of the piece of furniture. On the front part, the file-cupboard is closed by two swinging doors 8 and 9 of difierent size. The upper bigger door is hinged at 10 on a cross-bar 11 of the body, while the smaller one, indicated at 9 and provided with a projection 12 is hinged at 13 on the lower part of said body 1.

The lateral walls 2 and 3 carry at point 14 a pair of lateral guides or shoulders 15 composed of two telescoping tubes 16 and 17. As it will be described later on, said shoulders support a plurality of comb-like members 18 briefly called comb hereinafter, on their bent ends 19.

As it is readily apparent from the drawings, the front doors 8 and 9 of the cupboard, lid 6 and inside tube 16 (which is movable with respect to the outer one fastened at 14 on walls 2 and 3 of the cupboard) are mechanically interconnected by two identical rod and lever systems, placed near lateral walls 2 and 3, respectively.

Figs. 7 and 8 reproduce an embodiment of these lever systems, of which only one is shown here by way of example.

The rod and lever system includes a first hinge 20 fastened on the cover 6 on which a rod 21 is articulated. The opposite end of this rod is articulated at 22 on an arm 23 of a fork-like plate 26 turnably mounted at 24 on the side wall of the cupboard. On an intermediate point 25 of the arm 23 a longer rod 22a is articulated. Rod 22 is pivoted at 27 to a bent plate-like projection '12 provided on the lower door 9. On the end of the second arm 28 of the plate 26 a rod 29 is provided which connects with the free end of the inner tube 16 and is intended, as it will be pointed out later on, to cause an outward movement of said tube. The free end of inner tube 16 is further connected through an articulation with a small connecting-rod 31, ending with an articulation 32 on the door 8. By virtue of this mechanical connection, turning of the lid in the direction of arrow A (this turning being necessary for showing drawings 33 or the like placed in the file-cabinet on the combs 18 in order to draw them out) causes turning of the plate 26 in clockwise direction indicated by arrow B, as seen in Figs. 7 and 8, with the result of moving inside tube 16 to the outside (see Fig. 8) and inclining the front door outwardly. Turning of lid and then of plate 26, also causes outward displacement of lower door 9 and abutment (Fig. 8) of inclined projection 12 with an inclined transversal wall 34 in the cupboard, projection 12 and wall 34 so forming a chute on which, as it will be described later on, drawings 33 may fall in order to be removed from the cupboard through the opening 34a, provided by turning of lower door 9.

In order to prevent an undesired closing of lid 6, a

spring 30 is provided between plate 26 and the lateral Wall of the cupboard.

For closing of file-cupboard it is only necessary to impart a turning movement to lid 6 in an oppositedirection to that of arrow A to close doors 8 and 9.

As already stated, the bent ends 19 of, a plurality of combs 18, provided on two opposed sides With up standing edges 35 and 36, are supported on guides 15. On the higher back edge 35 numerical indications 3'7 or the like are provided, each aligned with a transverse slit of comb 38. As Fig. 2 shows, each comb has several parallel slits 355 each of them being identified by one of the aforesaid numbers 37, A flange Edis provided for preventing an undesired removal ofisupporting means 3% on which the drawings 33, placed in the cupboard, are hung.

Into slits 33 are placed supporting means 39, henceforth briefiy called riders, which are provided with a head 44} and made out of elastically deformable plastic material. These riders are preferably used in pairs 39 for holding up the drawings or the like 33. These drawings are hung on pairs of riders along their upper edge, preferably strengthened at 41, on which a bent metallic plate is fastened; into opening 43 of said plate enters the rider base 43a. The shank id ends in a head 44), which, through its edges 45, enables the riders to rest on combs 18 (see Fig. 2). In general each sheet of drawing or the like is held up by only two riders 39, so that a pair of numbers or the like 37 placed on edge 35 at each slit 33, allow univocal identification of the filed drawings. The riders may be of different colors so that differently colored riders may be used for identifying drawings connected in the same pair of slits. Numbers of each drawing and color of riders supporting them are recorded on the inner face of lid 6 on proper charts 46 (Fig. 1), so that it is easily possible to single out a particular desired drawing or the like.

Figs. and 6 show a different form of a rider made of elastically deformable plastic material. Such a rider may advantageously replace the one shown in Figs. l-4, when it is desired to avoid strengthening of the drawings or the like with a long strip of tape applied along one edge of said drawing. In effect, while in the preceding case it was necessary to apply tapes along at least the entire length of one edge by means of known devices, in the present case it is possible to avoid use of the latter employing a short strip of adhesive band 47 or the like to be applied only at points where riders have to be mounted. Afterwards, a hole 48 is made through the sheet as well as the adhesive strip 4'7, intowhich a boss 49 on a tongue 50 enters (see Figs. 5 and 6). On these figures it may be noticed that rider 51 has an arrow shaped head 51a, a shank of small section, which may be twisted with a light effort, in order to allow the drawings 33 to fall from their combs, as Well as a ring shaped base zone 53 surrounding aforesaid tongue 5t) provided with the boss.

A rider of elastically deformable plastic material is mounted on drawing 33, so that tongue 5% be located on the opposite side in respect of the ring shaped section 53 (see Fig. 6).

Wanting to change the classification of drawings or the like filed in the cupboard, aforesaid riders may be easily removed and replaced by other differently colored ones. Moreover, mounting of riders and application of the strengthening element on the sheet do not require the use of special machines.

The described and shown cupboard works as follows: when the file-cupboard is closed, a simple turning of lid. 6 causes the opening of door 9 and of the upper door 8, as well as forward movement of inside tube 16 (see Fig. 8). Now, in order to remove the desired sheet 33, it is sufficient to give a slight twist to the riders shanks 44 (see Figs 3 and 4) to allow the desired sheet to fall from the comb 13 on which it was formerly hung without horizontally shifting the other drawings placed in the same slits 38 of the same comb. The selected drawing will fall on chute 12, 34 and may be removed easily and quickly through the opening 34a.

Outward movement of the inside tube 16 has been provided in order to allow the diiferent combs to be separated from each other to facilitate necessary manipulation which is required for the removal or re-introduction of sheets 33.

As shown in Fig. 11, a hinged comb 50 or the like may be provided on the inside wall 8a of upper door 8, which may be brought by hand from the position shown in broken outline to the fully drawn position on the outer face 8b, when door 8 is open. On this comb, which may be hinged at 51 on above face 8a, drawings 33 may be temporarily hung up for the sake of study or to await their re-introduction. Without disarranging classification, removed drawings can be hung again on a pertinent comb in front of other drawings which are already on same. Consequently re-introduction does not present any difficulty.

All other modifications and changes of the above de' scribed embodiments coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

For instance, the upper door 8 may be replaced by a roller door or shutter 10th which may roll up in the lower part 101 of the cupboard, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In this event the lower door 9 will be lacking and the movable part not hte chute will entirely enter into the file cupboard, in order to allow movement of said roller shutter 100.

What I desire to secure with States is:

l. A file-cupboard for drawings, maps, photos or similar articles in sheet form comprising, in combination, a box like body, an inclined Wall within said body, a lid turnably mounted on said body, a first door frontally and turnably mounted on said body, a second door frontally and turnably mounted on said body below said first door and having an inclined plate-like projection thereon, at least one lever and rod system interconnecting said lid, said first and second doors so that opening turning movement imparted to said lid will cause said first and second doors to swing outwardly from said body and said plate like projection to align with said inclined wall in order to provide a substantially continuous surface acting as a chute, a pair of spaced supporting means mounted within said body each at two opposite lateral walls of the latter, a plurality of comb-like members supported at their ends on said supporting means Within said body, a plurality of hanging means removably connected with said comb'like members, a pluraity of said sheets vertically hanging from said comb-like members through said hanging means within said body, whereby disengagement of said hanging means from said comb-like members will cause one sheet to fall on said chute to be drawn out from said body through the aperture provided by said swung open second door.

2. A file-cupboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said pair of spaced supporting means comprises two telescoping reatively movable tubular members, one being fixed on said body the other being slideably mounted within the fixed one.

3. A file-cupboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and said second doors are mounted on said body for turning movement about a horizontal axis.

4. A file-cupboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said pairs of spaced supporting means comprises two telescopically coupled tubular members, and wherein said lever and rod system interconnecting said lid, said first and second door comprises a mechanical connection with the movable one of said tubuar member which enables the latter to move axially along the fixed one of said tubular member when said system is actuated.

5. A file-cupboard as claimed in claim 4, wherein said moveable tubular member is part of the lever and rod a patent of the United system being mechanically connected with said door to impart the latter a turning movement as said movable tubular member slides in the fixed tubular member.

6. A file-cupboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said comb-like member is provided with a plurality of parallel horizontally located slits.

7. A file-cupboard as claimed in claim 6, wherein said comb-like member comprises a pair of spaced, upstanding parallel side walls one having a plurality of identification means thereon singularly aligned with said slits.

8. A file-cupboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first door is provided with additional comb-like member turnably mounted on the inner face of said door, whereby turning movement of said comb-like member will cause said member to be placed on the outer face of said first door.

9. A file-cupboard for drawings, maps, photos or similar articles in sheet form comprising, in combination, a box-like body, an inclined wall within said body, a lid turnably mounted on said body, a first door frontally and turnably mounted on said body below said first door and having an inclined plate-like projection thereon, at least one lever and rod system interconnecting said lid, said first and second doors so that opening turning movement imparted to said lid will cause said first and seconddoors to swing outwardly from said body and said plate like projection to align with said inclined wall in order to provide a substantially continuous surface acting as a chute, a pair of spaced supporting shoulders mounted within said body each at two opposite lateral walls of the latter, a plurality of comb-like members supported at their ends on said shoulders within said body, said members being provided with a plurality of paralel horizontally located slits, a plurality of hanging means resting on the comb-like members and passing through said slits, said hanging means being at least in part in resilient material so to be manually twisted, a plurality of said sheets vertically hanging from said comb-like members through said hanging means within said body, whereby twisting of at least a pair of said hanging means will cause their disengagement from said comb-like members and one sheet to fall on said chute to be drawn out from said body through the aperture provided by said swung open second door.

10. A file-cupboard as claimed in claim 9, wherein said resilient material hanging means comprises a slim body section, an enlarged head section and a base section engaging clamping means applied to the edge of said sheet.

11. A file-cupboard as claimed in claim 8, wherein said resilient material hanging means comprises a slim body section, an enlarged head section and an annular base section surrounding a tongue provided with a boss.

12. A file-cupboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lid is provided with filing charts enabling identifications of the sheet contained in the body.

13. A file-cupboard for drawings, maps, photos or similar articles in sheet form comprising, in combination, a box-like body, a lid turnably mounted on said body, a frontally located roller door, an inclined fixed wall within said body, a movable plate-like wall supported in said body, a lever and rod system interconnecting said lid and said movable wall so that opening turning movement imparted to said lid will cause said movable wall to align with said fixed wall in order to provide a chute, a pair of spaced supporting means mounted within said body each at two opposite lateral walls of the latter, a plurality of comb-like members supported at their ends on said supporting means within said body, a plurality of hanging means removably connected with said comb-like members, a plurality of said sheets vertically hanging from said comb-like members through said hanging means within said body, whereby disengagement of said hanging means from said comb-like members will cause one sheet to fall on said chute to be drawn out from said body 6 through the aperture provided by rolling up said roller door.

14. A container arrangement for fiat objects, comprising, in combination, a container having an outlet opening in the lower portion thereof; at least one supporting member supported on said container above said outlet opening a plurality of releasable holding means supported on said supporting member, each holding means being movable to a position releasing said holding member, each holding means being adapted to be secured to a flat object so that the respective fiat objects are suspended from said supporting member and drop when the respective holding means is released; and chute means in the lower portion of said container connected to said outlet for guiding toward said outlet flat objects dropping thereon due to release of the respective associated holding means.

15. A container arrangement for fiat objects, comprising, in combination, a container having an outlet opening in the lower portion thereof; at least one supporting member supported on said container above said outlet opening; a plurality of releasable holding means supported on said supporting member, each holding means being movable to a position releasing said holding member, each holding means being adapted to be secured to a flat object so that the respective flat objects are suspended from said supporting member and drop when the respective holding means is released; chute means in the lower portion of said container connected to said outlet for guiding toward said outlet flat objects dropping thereon due to release of the respective associated holding means; a lid member mounted on the upper portion of said container movable between a closed position and an open position; a closure member mounted on the lower protion of said container movable between a position closing said outlet and an opened position; and means connecting said lid member with said closure member so that said closure member moves to said opened position when said lid member is moved to said open position and permits at least part of a released object to move through said outlet.

16. A container arrangement for flat objects, comprising, in combination, a container having an outlet opening in the lower portion thereof; at least one supporting member supported on said container above said outlet opening; a plurality of releasable holding means supported on said supporting member, each holding means being movable to a position releasing said holding member, each holding means being adapted to be secured to a flat object so that the respective flat objects are suspended from said supporting member and drop when the respective holding means is released; a downwardly inclined plate member fixedly secured to the lower portion of said container and located in the same, the lower edge of said plate member being directed toward said outlet and spaced from the same; a lid member mounted on the upper portion of said container movable between a closed position and an open position; a closure member mounted on the lower portion of said container, and including a closure portion and a guiding plate, said closure member being movable between a closed position in which said closure portion closes said outlet and said guiding plate is spaced from said lower edge of said plate member, and an opened position in which said closure portion opens said outlet and said guiding plate is downwardly inclined and forms with said plate member a downwardly inclined guiding surface extending toward said outlet; and means connecting said lid member with said closure member so that said closure member moves to said opened position when said lid member is moved to said open position so that flat objectsreleased in said open position of said lid member drop onto said guiding surface and move at least partly thrugh said outlet.

17. A container arrangement for flat objects, comprising, in combination, a container having an opening on top and a wall movable from an upright position to an inclined position and bounding said opening on one side so that said opening is wider in said inclined position of said movable wall; a pair of telescopic supporting ele ments mounted on said container extending transverse to said movable wall, each supporting element having a forward end secured to said movable wall and a rearward end secured to another part of said container; a lid member mounted on said container movable between a closed position and an open position; means connecting said lid member with said forward ends ofsaid supporting elements so that when said lid member is moved to said open position said telescopic supporting elements are expanded and said movable wall is moved to said inclined position; and a plurality of supporting members extending transverse to said supporting elements and being slidably supported on the same so that in said open position of said lid member access to and transverse shifting of said supporting members and flat objects suspended thereon is facilitated.

18. A container arrangement for fiat objects, comprising, in combination, a container having an outlet opening in the lower portion thereof, an opening on top and a wall movable from an upright position to an inclined position and bounding said opening on one side so that said opening is wider in said inclined position of said movable wall; a pair of telescopic supporting elements mounted on said container extending transverse to said movable wall, each supporting element having a forward end secured to said movable wall and a rearward end secured to another part of said container; a plurality of supporting members extending transverse to said supporting elements and being slidably supported on the same so that in said open position of said lid member access to and transverse shifting of said supporting members and flat objects suspended thereon is facilitated; a plurality of releasable holding means supported on said supporting member, each holding means being movable to a position releasing said holding member, each holding means being adapted to be secured to a flat object so that the respective fiat objects are suspended from said supporting member and drop when the respective holding means is released; a downwardly inclined plate member fixedly secured to the lower portion of said container and located in the same, the lower edge of said plate member being directed toward said outlet and spaced from the same; a closure member mounted on the lower portion of said container, and including a closure'portion and a guiding plate, said closure member being movable between a closed position in which said closure portion closes said outlet and said guiding plate is spaced from said lower edge of said plate member, and an open position in which said closure portion opens said outlet and said guiding plate is downwardly inclined and forms with said plate member a downwardly inclined guiding sur face extending toward said outlet; a lid member mounted on said container movable between a closed position and an open position; and means connecting said lid member with said forward ends of said supporting member and said closure member so that when said lid is moved to said open position said telescopic supporting elements are expanded and said movable wall is moved to said inclined position while at the same time, said closure member moves to said opened position, whereby when said lid is moved to said opened position, said supporting members may be slid forward on said supporting elements to facilitate the selection of a desired flat object, the releasable holding means securing said fiat object may be released, the flat object released will drop onto said guiding surface and move at least partly through said outlet.

19. A container arrangement comprising, in combination, a container, an outlet opening in the lower portion thereof, an opening on top and a'wall movable from an upright position to an inclined position and bounding ing member, each holding means said opening on one side so that said opening is wider in said inclined position of said movable wall; supporting means including a pair of telescopic supporting elements mounted on said container extending transverse to said movable Wall and a rearward end secured to another part of said container; a downwardly inclined plate member fixedly secured to the lower portion of said container and located in the same, the lower edge of said plate member being directed toward said outlet and spaced from the same; a closure member mounted on the lower portion of said container, and including a closure portion and a guiding plate, said closure member being movable between a closed position in which said closure portion closes said outlet and said guiding plate is spaced from said lower edge of said plate member, and an open position in which said closure portion opens said outlet and said guiding plate is downwardly inclined and forms with said plate member a downwardly inclined guiding surface extending toward said outlet; a lid member mounted on said container movable between a closed position and an open position; and means connecting said lid member with said forward ends of said telescopic supporting member and said closure member so that when said lid is moved to said open position, said telescopic supporting elements are expanded and said movable wall is moved to said inclined position while at the same time, said closure member moves to said open position, whereby when said lid is moved to said opened position, flat objects in said container supported by said supporting means may be slid forward on said supporting elements to facilitate the selection, and may be removed from said container by being detached from said supporting means to drop onto said guiding surface and to slide at least partly through said outlet.

20. A container arrangement for flat objects, comprising, in combination, a container having an outlet opening in the lower portion thereof; at least one supporting member supported on said container above said outlet opening; a plurality of releasable holding means supported on said supporting member, each holding means being movable to a position releasing said holding member, each holding means being adapted to be secured to a flat object so that the respective flat objects are suspended from said supporting member and drop when the respective'holding means is released; a downwardly inclined plate member fixedly secured to the lower portion of said container and located in the same, the lower edge of said plate member being directed toward said outlet and spaced from the same; a lid member mounted on the upper portion of said container movable between a closed position and an open position; a closure member mounted on the lower portion of said container, and including a closure portion and a guiding plate, said closure member being movable between a closed position in which said closure portion closes said outlet and said guiding plate is spaced from said lower edge of said plate member, and an opened position in which said closure portion opens said outlet and said guiding plate is downwardly inclined and forms with said plate memher a downwardly inclined guiding surface extending toward said outlet; and a lever and rod connecting said lid member with said closure member so that said closure member moves to said opened position when said lid member is moved to said open position so that fiat objects released in said open position of said lid member drop onto said guiding surface and move at least partly through said outlet.

21. A container arrangement for flat objects, comprising, in combination, a container having an outlet opening in the lower portion thereof; at least one supporting member supported on said container above said outlet opening: a plurality of releasable holding means supported on said supporting member, each holding means being movable to a position releasing said holdbeing adapted to be secured to a flat object so that the respective flat objects are suspended from said supporting member and drop when the respective holding means is released; a downwardly inclined plate member fixedly secured to the lower portion of said container and located in the same, the lower edge of said plate member being directed toward said outlet and spaced from the same; a lid member mounted on the upper portion or said container movable between a closed position and an open position; a closure member mounted on the lower portion of said container, and including a closure portion and a guiding plate, said closure member being movable between a closed position in which said closure portion closes said outlet and said guiding plate is spaced from said lower edge of said plate member, and an opened position in which said closure portion opens said outlet and said guiding plate is downardly inclined and forms with said plate member References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,825,310 Engstrom Sept. 21, 1931 1,893,570 Waite Jan. 10, 1933 2,197,355 Ulrich Apr. 16, 1940 2,331,472 Holleck Oct. 12, 1943 2,378,114 Van Donk June 12, 1945 

